Method of producing rovings packages of uniform lengths



R. A. PIM 3,012,327

METHOD OF PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNIFORM LENGTHS Dec. 12, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1957 a: 4! I 4i 4/ 4/ w n w a IN V ENTOR. WM d Q1): BY

7206146 Edi/a e A TTORNEYS R. A. PIM

Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,327

METHOD OF PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNIFORM LENGTHS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 10, 1957 3,iil2,327 Fatented Bee. 12, 1961 fire 3,012,327It'iETHOD F PRODUCING ROVINGS PACKAGES OF UNEFORM LENGTHS Richard A.Pim, Water-ville, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, toJohns-Manville Fiber Glass Inc, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Apr. 19, 1957, Ser. No. 651,939 Claims. (Cl. 33136) Thisinvention relates to the production of roving packages of uniformlength, and more particularly to a method for producing roving packageswhich are of uniform length within close limits.

A roving as defined in the glass fiber art comprises a plurality ofuntwisted continuous glass strands, each containing a multiplicity ofcontinuous glass fibers, wherein the strands are arranged in parallelcontacting relationship as a single large strand.

Prior methods of producing roving packages have included control ofpackage length or yardage by either weight or diameter of the finishedpackage. However, with the tolerances permitted in previous formingoperations on the fiber, and the tolerances permitted in the winding ofthe roving packages, the yardage varied as much as 20 to 25% from onepackage to another.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to produceroving packages of uniform yardage within extremely close tolerances.

It is another object to provide a method for winding roving packages ofuniform yardage employing a master control strand.

Another object is to provide a method for producing roving packages ofuniform yardage employing as the master, a strand of precise length.

A further object is to provide a method for winding roving packages ofuniform length within close tolerances wherein a master packagecontaining a single strand previously wound to a precise length, isemployed to control the roving package length within extremely narrowlimits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparentduring the course of the following description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for winding master packages ofstrand of precise length;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit employed in thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of apparatus for winding roving packages ofuniform yardage within extremely clear tolerances; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuit employed in theapparatus of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, an apparatus is provided upon which the presentmethod can be practiced for winding a single strand of desiredroving'specification into a package of precise length. 'The apparatusincludes a strand supply section 10, a strand measuring section 11 and astrand winding section 12. The strand supply section includes suitablesupport members 13 upon which a plurality of packages 14 of continuousglass fiber strand 15 are adapted to be positioned. Associated with eachpackage 14 is a guide eye 16, positioned upon a suitable support element17, secured to the package support memher 13.

The strand measuring section 11 includes a metering roll 18 which isadapted to be powered by connection to a suitable motor 19. The meteringroll 18 is mounted on a long shaft 20 to which a counting device 21 isconnected for determining the number of revolutions thereof. The counter21 is adapted to be set to actuate an number of yards of the strand 15as determined by revolution of the metering roll 18. The counter 21contains a signal lamp 22, in circuit with the switch, which is adaptedto be lighted upon actuation of the switch. The switch and lamp 22 areconnected in a circuit through a pair of conductive lines 23. Thecounter 21 is also provided with a set handle 24. Positioned between thestrand measuring section 11 and the strand winding section 12 are aplurality of knock off devices 25 having guide eyes 26 corresponding innumber to the number of strands 15 to be wound.

The strand winding section 12 includes a power source, such as a motor27, the shaft 28 of which is connected to a main power shaft 29. Themain power shaft 29 is provided with a plurality of pulleys 3t}. Spacedin parallel relation with respect to the main power shaft 29 are aplurality of winding spindles 31. Each of the winding spindles includesa rotatable shaft member 32 provided at one end with a power receivingpulley 33 and upon which shaft is adapted to be mounted a suitable spoolin the form of tube 34 for receiv ng strand 15 thereon. The pulleys 33of the winding spindles 31 are operably connected by belts 35 toappropriate pulleys 30 on the power shaft 29 for receiving powertherefrom and are thereby adapted to be rotated. It is to be noted thatthe winding spindles 31 correspond in number to the individual strands15 adapted to be Wound from the strand supply section 14 Associated witheach winding spindle 31 is a suitable traversing device 36 for movingthe strand 15 in a to-and-fro manner across the peripheral surface ofthe winding tube 34 in forming a master package 37.

The strands 15 from the strand supply section 10 are passed through theguide eyes 16 and looped about the metering roll 18 and passed throughthe guide eyes 26 of their respective knock offs 25. Thence the strands15 are directed through the traversing devices 36 to their respectivewinding spindles 31 where they are Wound into a plurality of masterpackages 37 of precisely the same length.

By referring to the electrical circuit diagram of FIG. 2, the operationof the machine can be better described. It will be seen that power issupplied to the circuit through a pair of supply lines 38 and 39,through a main switch 46. Line 38 leads to one side of the motor 27powering the winding spindles 3-1 and of the motor 19 driving themetering roll 18. The other supply line 39 leads to and through switches41 of each of the knock off devices 25, connected in series, and thenceto the other side of the motors just described. The circuit alsoincludes a two-position switch 42, forming a part of the counting device21. This two-way switch 42 is normally closed and thus in series withthe knock-off switches 41. However, when the Winding operation hasproceeded to a desired point as determined by the counting device 21 thetwo-position switch 4 2 is opened, thus stopping the winding operation.concomitantly with the changes in position of the two position switch 42the signal lamp 22 forming a part of the counting device 21 is actuatedthus signaling an operator that the winding operation is completed.

In the event of breakage of any one of the plurality of strands 15, itwill be seen that the knock off device '25 associated therewith iseffective to stop the entire operation. This permits the strand 15 to bespliced and the operation again set in motion and completed. It willthus be seen that a plurality of master packages 37 of identical length,each produced under precisely the same conditions of manufacture, willbe formed.

A master package, prepared by the aforedescribed method, is thenutilized in the apparatus of FIG. 3 for 3 producing a roving package ofaccurate length. As shown in FIG. 3 the apparatus includes a strandsupply section 43 and a roving winding section 44. The strand supplysection 43 includes a support comprising a pair of shelves 45 upon whichare placed. a set of packages 14' of strand 15. The position of one ofthe packages 14 is occupied by a master package 37 of strand 46 preparedas previously described. The other master packages 37 are utilized withother sets of packages 14. At each strand package station, a guide unit47 is provided to direct the strand 15 from the package 14 to the guideeye 48 of a knock ofi unit 49'. The strand 46 from the master package 37is directed to a knock-oil .unit 50. The knock-oil? units 49 and 50 areefiective to stop the winding operation in the event of strand breakage.This a precautionary measure to assure that the roving contains thespecified number of strands. The roving winding section 44 includes amotor 51, provided with a rotatable shaft or mandrel 52, upon which atube 53 is adapted to be mounted. The roving winding section 44 alsoincludes a travcrser 54 provided with a guide eye 55. The separatestrands including the master strand 46 are gathered by the guide eye 55of the traverser unit 54 into a roving 56 and thence are directed ontothe tube 53- of the winding mandrel 5-2 to form a roving package'57.

The electrical circuit for the apparatus of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4and includes a pair of power supply lines 58 and 59 leading to a masterswitch 60. Line 58 continues from the master switch 60 to the motor 5 1.The other line 59 alsocontinues to the motor 5-1, being connected to theother side thereof through a plurality of switches 61 and 62. Theswitches include a two-way 50 of the master strand 46 and is connectedto lines 58 and 59 through the two position switch 62.

The winding operation is effected by first positioning the packages 14and 37 upon the shelves 45 in their proper locations and threading thestrands 15 through the guides 48 of their respective knock offs 49,thence through the guide eye 55 of the traverser 54. The main switch 60of FIG. 4 is then closed and the operation is started. The strand 46from the master package 37 determines when the operation is completedand when the end of such strand passes through its knock oif device 50,windingis stopped and the rovings package 57 is complete. Passage of themaster strand 46 through the knock off 50 causes the two position switch62forming a part thereof to be moved into circuit with the signal lamp63 which is'thereby lighted to inform the operator visually ofcompletion of the winding operation.

With regard to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the knock ofis 49associated with the strands 15 may be q omitted if desired, sincecommercial specifications for rovings allow a variation of one to twostrands. Thus without the knock ofiEs 49, the machine operator observeshaving observed the break. The knock ofi 50 associated with the masterstrand 46 is retained, of course, to provide the precise length of therovings package as previously described by virtue of the precise lengthof the master strand.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a method forproducing roving packages of closely controlled length within narrowtolerances limits. In accordance with the present method an error as lowas 0.01% can be retained in roving packages of a'nominal length of 7000yards. The present method provides a number of advantages includinguniformity of product, that is uniformity of package lengths so thatmanufactu'rers who use roving packages produced by this method no longerneed be concerned with the problem of varying yardage as heretoforeencountered. The use of automatic controls provides means for attainingabsolute uniformity of product. Such controlsalso enable one operator totend a plurality of machines without danger of packages of non-uniformquality being produced.

It is to be understoodthat the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, but thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of thesubjoined claims.

I claim: 7

1. The method of winding a roving package which in .cludes the steps of,providing a master strand of continuous andpredeterihined length,providing a plurality of continuous strands of undetermined but greaterlength than said master strand, associating said plural strands and saidmaster strand into a roving, winding said roving into a package,andautomatically controlling the winding operation by the length of saidmaster strand.

2. The method of winding a roving package which includes the steps of,providing a continuous strand of undetermined length, measuring saidstrand to a selected length to provide a master strand, providing aplurality of continuous strands of undetermined but greater length thansaid master strand, associating said strands with said master strandinto a roving, winding said roving into a package, and controlling thewinding operation by said master strand length. 7

3.'The method of winding roving packagesof highly uniform lengthincluding the steps of, providing a plurality of continuous strands ofundetermined length, measuring each of said strands to a selected exactlength into master strands by means of a common measuring device,providing a plurality of sets of continuous strands of undetermined butgreater length than oneof said master strands, associating each of saidsets of strands with one of said master strands into a roving, windingsaid rovings into separate pa'ckage's,-and controlling the windingoperation by the lengths of said master strands.

4. The methodof winding a roving package which comprises: providing amaster strand of continuous and predetermined length; providing aplurality of other strands; associating said plurality of other strandswith said master strand to form a roving equal in length to said masterstrand; winding said roving into a package; and interrupting the windingoperation-in response to a signal initiated by the approach of themaster strand end.

5. The method of Winding a plurality of roving packages, whichcomprises: providing a source of strand; measuring a plurality'oflengths of said strand to form master strands of predetermined and equallengths; subsequently associating a master strand with a plurality ofstrands ofindeterminate length to form a roving; winding said rovinginto a package; discontinuing the winding operation-in response to asignal initiated by the approach of the master strand end; duplicatingthe preceding three steps with each of the remaining master strands toform a plurality of packages, corresponding to the number of masterstrands formed, of substantially uniform length.

References Cited in the file of thispatent I UNITED STATES PATENTS617,280 Chilton Jan. 3, 1899 1,631,405 Downing June 7, 1927 2,351,411Doughty June 13, 1944 2,643,306 Hamilton June 23, 1953

